Family Fun On A Budget

February 18, 2009 by brwilson · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Family, The Economy

If you have watched the news recently it's impossible to miss the fact that much of the world is in recession and jobs are becoming scarce. While losing a job may be a parents worst nightmare, it's not the end of the world, your family will survive and can even grow closer together during these tough times.

For families that have experienced many years of good times financially, making the adjustment to living on less may be tough, but not impossible. For parents that spend a great deal of time at work, purchasing big ticket items for their children is one way to express love for a child. But this of course only works when you actually have money to spend. If you were to lose your job today, do you have a game plan for your family's survival? I'm not talking financially, although this is certainly important, but I'm referring to the adjustment that your children will have to make. If you have spoiled your children and given them nearly everything they ever wanted, a job loss could be catastrophic to their whole way of life.

The best plan is to work at cutting down long before your job is gone and you are forced to cut down. Start thinking of things you can do as a family that is inexpensive, or better yet, something completely free. It might seem impossible to have fun without money, but activities like playing board games, going for hikes or bike rides or going to the beach for the day don't cost much money and they help a family to become closer together. Even sitting down to a meal each night together is a simple thing that you can do to become closer during difficult financial times.

Forget fancy, expensive vacations or dinners out at a nice restaurant. While these can all be fun, living on less can actually be quite liberating and your family will benefit from the time spent together.

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Tags: Family, parenting

Make Quality Time For Your Children

February 10, 2009 by brwilson · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Family, Foster Care, Parenting Tips, Parents Resources, Shopping

As the parent of a special needs child I know that it can be hard at times to make time for our kids. There are many times our kids will come up to us after a hard days work and want to play a game or ask if we want to color with them and all we want to do is sit down and relax.

It is important that we make this special time available to spend with them. What that time is will depend largely on the age of your children. With our kids aged 2 and 5, I define special time as getting on the floor and reading a book with them, coloring, painting, playing a game or playing with their toys with them.

I have tea parties with my girls a few times per week. It always makes me smile to watch the 2 year old go to her play kitchen, pick up her play tea pot, go through the motion of pouring tea and the very carefully bringing me a cup of tea so as not to spill any. After I have sipped my tea she will always ask, more daddy and take delight in making several trips to bring me tea.

Children may not show it but they feel special because mom and dad are taking time out of their busy day to just spend time with them. It can be hard with work and all other commitments to give your child that time all the time but you should at least give each of your children 15 minutes a day one on one time. Statistics say that parents that do spend time with their children on a daily routine have less parenting problems as they grow. This has certainly been our experience.

I am not saying you need to be with your child every moment of the day. But to build a good relationship with your child you should take interest in what they are doing. If it is a toddler get down to their level and play with them. They grow so fast you will wish you did when they hit high school. If your children are into sports or any school activity, make it a habit to make it to their events and cheer them on. I have seen so many parents use sports as a baby sitting service. They drop the kids off and never show up for any of the events. If you think they will not notice, think again!

The right choice is not always the easy choice. The benefits you will get from spending this quality time with your children will come back over and over throughout your life. If you realize it or not you are also teaching them to be good parents when the time comes. Be happy. Be loved. Be a Parent.